[ Alabama ] Black bears are regularly appearing in the Talladega National Forest , leading biologists to speculate that the rare animals have moved into north Alabama for the first time in at least a century. It’s unclear if they are becoming what biologists consider permanent residents — mating pairs that are remaining in the forest and raising cubs. But experts say that, if they haven’t set up housekeeping, it probably won’t be long before they do. “One of the things that interests me about Alabama is that it’s a large state with a lot of forest and relatively few people,” said Joe Clark, a bear expert for the U.S. Geological Survey in Knoxville . “I think once bears find it, they’re probably going to do well there.”

News notes are courtesy of Southern Forests Network News Notes www.southernsustainableforests.org